2^(4-1)^2

do what's in the parenthesis first, then you have 2^3^2 over 2^1

or 2^ (3^2) which equals to 2^9 / 2^1 which equals to 2^8.

you're multiplying 3 with 2, rather than squaring the 3.

got it.

completely missed the parantheses.

this one tripped me up to. i still don't really understand what the difference is between:

4^(3)^2 and (4^3)^2

so in the first its 4^9 and second its 4^6? i'm not sure why this doesn't make sense to me. what is the order of operations rule i am missing?

its PEMBAS.

parantheses- always come first.
so if you do the parantheses, that's (4-1)squared, which is 3squared, which is 9.

I seek clarification....

as per the attachment 2^(4-1)^2 is different from (2^(4-1))^2 ...right? The answer of the latter is going to be 2^5...is it?

Anurag@Gurome wrote:

nk_81 wrote:I seek clarification....

as per the attachment 2^(4-1)^2 is different from (2^(4-1))^2 ...right? The answer of the latter is going to be 2^5...is it?

Yes, you're correct.

2^[(4 - 1)^2] = 2^9 ...... BUT ...... [2^(4 - 1)]^2 = 2^6

In this case, we just need to watch out for the parathesis then. The position of the parathesis will decide the solution for such questions. Right?

Why do you just automatically take out the parenthesis after doing 4-1. Shouldn't it still be 2^(3)^2?

RyanP wrote:Why do you just automatically take out the parenthesis after doing 4-1. Shouldn't it still be 2^(3)^2?

Anybody?

RyanP wrote:Why do you just automatically take out the parenthesis after doing 4-1. Shouldn't it still be 2^(3)^2?

Yes, it should be.

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:

RyanP wrote:Why do you just automatically take out the parenthesis after doing 4-1. Shouldn't it still be 2^(3)^2?

Yes, it should be.

If it should be that, then why is the answer 2^8 rather than 2^5? OG has it as 2^8

RyanP wrote:

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:

RyanP wrote:Why do you just automatically take out the parenthesis after doing 4-1. Shouldn't it still be 2^(3)^2?

Yes, it should be.

If it should be that, then why is the answer 2^8 rather than 2^5? OG has it as 2^8

2^(3)^2, the parenthesis is 3^2 which is 9 and gives (2^9)/(2^1) which is still 2^8

^Exactly. The parentheses tell us which base to raise to its exponent first.

Hi all,

sorry to dig this thread out again. I am not 100% clear on how the rules are with regards to exponents of exponents - I thought it was always just a question of multiplying them (ie 2^4^3 = 2^12) but now it seems that the rules have changed.

I don't quite understand where the brackets have to be to do the 3^2 in this case instead of 3*2. It would be great if someone could explain WHEN to use ^ and when *.

I kind of got from the previous explanation that when the exponent and its exponent (in this case: (4-1)^2) are in brackets, then I need to do ^ - i.e. 3^2. And if the base is in a bracket with the "first exponent" (in this case: 2^(4-1)) then I need to multiply the first and the second exponent (ie (4-1)^2 = 3*2).

Is this always the rule? Can someone confirm if I'm right here please?

Thanks in advance!

Kate